OSW Tutorial Series, Part 1

Are you ready for a fun, new series?  This series is all about OSW cards --- One Sheet Wonder.  In other words... getting the biggest bang for your buck from a 12 X 12" piece of CS (card stock) or DSP (Designer Series Papers).  With Christmas preparations coming right up, I think you'll find this series useful when it comes to making your cards.  We generally make more cards for Christmas than at any other time of the year.

I'd like to make a few points before we go any further:
- There are MANY different ways you can divide up a 12 X 12" sheet.
- Some of them are very complicated.  I chose not to work with those.
- Let's be real?  Wouldn't you prefer quick and easy?  I certainly do.
- Want to take it further?  Get some grid paper and start working your math skills.

Now... let's start with the easiest one of all. 

Divide your paper into 4" strips.
Turn your paper and cut into 5 1/4" pieces.
You'll end up with 6 card fronts and 3 smaller pieces.
The smaller pieces are wide enough to go across the front of the card.
You can use these pieces over 3 card fronts and then use ribbon on the other 3 card fronts, because you can get 6 cards from a sheet of CS or DSP by dividing it up this way.
Remember, your DSP is double-sided with coordinating designs, so it's an easy way to not end up with scraps or have to cut something else to add to your card.
I added a simple butterfly embellishment and called it complete.

Here's a close-up of the card.  I had a scrap of black CS, so I added that across the inside of the card.  The base of this card is black, so you have to put something else inside, so you can stamp or write a message.  I tried using sahara sand instead of white for the inside on this one and I love it.
By keeping it simple, I can now grab this card to use for most any occasion whenever I need a card right away.

Tips:
Why not choose some DSP you really like and make up a group of cards to have ready for special occasions.  This is great not only for Christmas cards, but also for party invitations or thank you notes.
You may even want to start some sort of container with dividers to keep your cards sorted.  OR... You may just want to keep a few out in a cute container where you can grab them quickly when you need them.  This also helps you to keep an eye on how many are left in your 'stash' so you'll know when to get busy on making some more.
What are cards we need the most often?
Birthday
Thank You
Thinking of You
Sympathy
How about 9 cards instead of 6?
Simple!!!  Make 3 just like this card and then take your remaining 3 card fronts and cut them diagonally.  Now you can make 6 more cards instead of 3 more!  I'll share some of these variations in a future post. 

I have several more parts to this series, so keep coming back to see what's next.  Leave me a comment if you have questions or suggestions. 

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Time Out for Timeless Elegance, Card 3

I have a third card for you today and this one is my favorite of the three I've shared with you.  This one has two kinds of lace on it, along with some other very pretty embellishments.

The 2 layers of lace are placed over a strip of DSP.  The scallop circle behind the 'Thank You' is also punched from DSP.

I especially love the look of the 2 sizes of punched flowers, embellished with our Metal Rimmed Pearls.

As with the previous 2 cards, this one is simple to make and let's the gorgeous DSP be the star.  It's quite elegant and could be used for other occasions by simply changing out the text.  You could even remove the text and punched circles and replace them with a single large flower (stamped or punched).

Here are all 3 cards again --- similar designs, same color story, and same beautiful DSP.  I'd suggest that, when you find a DSP that you really like, start cutting a package into card layers, get out coordinating CS and embellishments and you'll soon have a bunch of gorgeous cards that you just love.

TIPS AND TIDBITS:
My DSP layers are 3 3/4 X 5" for each card.
The Basic Black CS layers are 4 X 5 1/4" for each card.
Each card base is Sahara Sand.  Your DSP plans your color story for you.
Using this size of DSP for each card, you can get 6 cards from 1 sheet of DSP.  I'll have more on that in my OSW series coming up next. 

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Time Out for Timeless Elegance, Card 2

I have another card for you today, using our gorgeous Timeless Elegance DSP.  This one features some wonderful touches of gold.  

I kept the design very simple, to let the elements just shine on their own.

When you add the gold touches to an already simple but elegant card, it just bumps it up that much more. 

Once again, I have a card that could be used for many different occasions.  My stash is getting filled out very nicely!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Time Out for Timeless Elegance, Card 1

How about a little series of Timeless Elegance cards?  Alright!  Let's get started.

Card recipe:
Timeless Elegance DSP
Sahara Sand card base
Basic Black (layer beneath DSP)
Double layer of black butterflies
Metal Rimmed Pearls (1 each of the 3 sizes)
Venetian Crochet Trim
Result:
Fun
Easy
Beautiful!!!

Don't you love this paper?!!! 

This card would work for almost any occasion you'd have.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Vintage Frame Project

My husband gave me a beautiful vintage looking frame for our anniversary this year and I promised to share with you how I used it.  Today, we'll look at that, along with some reminders about next Saturday's OSW class.  Here's my framed project.

Isn't this a pretty frame?  I just love it.  Unfortunately, it's one of those frames that doesn't open up completely in the back, so you can't put the glass in the back and create something really dimensional over it.  So, I just stepped up to the challenge and used some of our beautiful DSP and stamped onto the DSP.  I cut out some extra flowers from another DSP sheet of the same design and attached them over my first piece, so it has some dimension contained within the frame.  The butterfly was stamped, cut out, and attached to the DSP, as well.

I think the frame and the DSP compliment each other.  I love how it turned out.  I can always open it up, remove the decorated DSP and create a new setting to go into the frame, or use it for a vintage photo.  Actually, it now has the same paper, minus the butterfly, and I added some of our Vintage Leaves onto the outside of the frame.  They are gently attached with glue dots, so nothing will be damaged and I can change it again whenever I want.  I think I can envision a vintage Christmas project next:)

Before you go, don't forget that my OSW (One Sheet Wonder) cards class is this coming Saturday (Sept. 19th / 1:00-4:00).  I'll teach you how to create your own background papers, teach you how to create your own templates and give you many tips on how to get the biggest bang for your buck from your CS and beautiful DSP sheets.  You'll go home with 5 beautiful cards, along with several templates and lots of ideas.  It's well worth the class fee of $20.  I hope, if you live in the area, that you'll join us.  If not, I'll be sharing more throughout this next week on working with OSW projects, so be sure to come back and check it out.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Vintage Timeless Elegance Card

Are you ready for another vintage card today.  We enjoyed making this one at my class, too.  It features our beautiful Timeless Elegance DSP.  

I kept this one simple and let the beautiful paper be the star.  The sentiment is heat embossed and the black strip is embossed with our Lovely Lace embossing folder, one of my absolute favorites.  

The color story is a striking Sahara Sand and Black --- very elegant!

I have two more cards to share with you from our class and then you will have seen them all, so be sure to come back for my next posts.  

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.